Snipers Imperil U.S.-Led Forces in Afghan Offensive

MARJA, Afghanistan — In five days of fighting, the Taliban have shown a side not often seen in nearly a decade of American military action in Afghanistan: the use of snipers, both working alone and integrated into guerrilla-style ambushes.

Five Marines and two Afghan soldiers have been struck here in recent days by bullets fired at long range. That includes one Marine fatally shot and two others wounded in the opening hour of a four-hour clash on Wednesday, when a platoon with Company K of the Third Battalion, Sixth Marines, was ambushed while moving on foot across a barren expanse of flat ground between the clusters of low-slung mud buildings.

Chivers (and redoubtable Times photog Tyler Hicks) are putting themselves in harm’s way to report on these battles.

Critics should weigh that against their ideological biases before dumping on Chivers – or any other war correspondent.